What better way to add flavour to your cooking than picking herbs fresh from the plant? Growing your own - whether on your kitchen windowsill, balcony, patio or in your herb garden, beds or borders - is much more satisfying than buying successive pots of herbs from the supermarket that last only a couple of weeks. This hardy perennial is a member of the mint family, with its origins in the warm countries of Western and Southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean. Ancient Greeks called it 'Joy of the Mountain' and it was commonly woven into bridal bouquets and used in traditional remedies for its digestive and antiseptic properties. Its bright green, aromatic leaves and small white or purplish summer flowers make a lovely addition to any windowsill or garden. Considered the 'true oregano' by generations of cooks and gardeners, Greek oregano is the best of the bunch as far as flavour is concerned as it is has a stronger, more earthy character than other varieties, with hot and peppery notes. The warmer the weather, the more intense the flavour of the leaves will become - a great addition to tomato based dishes, pizzas, sauces, soups or marinades, or even added to salads. It's a good herb for drying and it stores well; dried leaves have a more intense flavour so can be used more sparingly than the fresh. Although more commonly grown in pots, if planted in the ground it provides great ground cover, forming slow-spreading clumps that can be trimmed back easily to maintain size and shape. Whether grown in the ground or in a pot, it makes a great companion plant as its strong aroma will repel ants and other insect pests whilst its summer flowers are particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators. Supplied as a packet of approx. 900 seeds ready to sow indoors year-round or outdoors from April to May. Grows to 40cm (16in) high. Plant in warm, light, well-drained soil or compost, 20cm (8in) apart, in a sunny position directly into a border or herb garden, or in pots or containers.
Also called a 'Peony Tulip' because of the striking resemblence to the double flowers of a peony, 'Double Pink' has huge ruffled, creamy pink blooms, which last for weeks thanks to their strong, vigorous nature. Perfect in pots on the patio with large gatherings of the same variety, or mixed up in beds and borders with other varieties such as 'Mount Tacoma' or 'Blue Diamond', 'Double Pink' are a gorgeous variety of tulip that is a great choice for creating a romantic, cottage garden display in the spring. These blousy tulips are particularly special as a cut flower too as they are quite different and unique - why not give a bunch as a gift to a friend or family member on a special day? Although easy to grow and care for, double tulips, with their heavy flowers, are slightly more vulnerable to wind so choose a sheltered spot away from any harsh weather conditions and plant in autumn for stunning spring displays. Supplied as a pack of 15 bulbs, size 11/12, ready to plant straight out.
One of the easiest vegetables to grow, this ultra-hardy, compact kale variety will provide you with highly nutritious, tasty leaves from September through to March. A British culinary favourite since the mid-19th century, curly kale has had a resurgence in popularity in recent years. This dwarf variety has attractive, dark green, densely frilled leaves that have an extremely sweet taste with no bitterness. It's highly nutritious too, being rich in vitamins and antioxidants. A versatile ingredient in the kitchen, it is superb when steamed or stir-fried to retain nutrients and texture and the young leaves make a tasty raw addition to salads. Resilient, vigorous and sturdy, this dwarf kale's habit will tolerate exposed positions and most soil types; it does exceptionally well in poor soils where other vegetables might struggle, although is equally happy in well-drained, fertile soils. This is a vegetable that positively thrives over winter in Britain, so is a good cut-and-come-again option for continuous harvesting over a long season. Leaves are especially sweet and tasty when picked young from the plant. If left to flower, the yellow blooms will attract wildlife to your garden, being a great source of nectar and pollen. Supplied as a packet of approx. 275 seeds ready to sow indoors in a seed tray, or outdoors in their growing position. Plant 45cm (18in) apart June to August and harvest from September onwards through to early spring.
Small-leaved, very tender spinach for salads and cooking, 'Samish F1' has good mildew resistance and is moderately winter hardy so is ideal for late season cropping. Grow as a baby leaf vegetable under glass throughout the winter to extend the season. Believed to be of Persian origin, spinach has long been a favourite as a tasty and versatile green leafy vegetable to be eaten cooked or raw. This 'savoy' or 'curly leaf' spinach has dark green, slightly crinkly leaves that have a crisp texture and a rich green, slightly bitter flavour, which makes it well suited to cooking. It is also great when added raw to salads to add an unusual and distinctive note. Highly nutritious, it is an excellent source of folate and vitamins A and C. A great choice for gardeners, 'Samish F1' has great resistance to cold and disease so is a good choice for early and regular sowing to ensure a long harvest. It thrives in well-drained, fertile soil, so adding composted manure to the ground before planting will give it an extra boost. A sunny position is ideal although it will also grow well in light shade. Supplied as a packet of 200 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors in their growing position. Sow outdoors from March to September, 30cm (12in) apart in rows, in moist but well-drained fertile soil. Harvest from May to October, or through the winter if grown under glass.
A classic courgette, 'All Green Bush' is a reliable, quick-growing and high-yielding variety that will crop all summer long with regular harvesting. One plant will typically produce 6-10 fruits. Its compact habit makes it ideal for growing in pots or containers, or the seeds can be planted directly in the ground where they are to crop. The dark skins are tender so are great when cooked whole. For the best flavour, harvest as baby courgettes at about 10-15cm (4-6in) long. If not eaten immediately, they will keep well for a few days stored in the fridge. Alternatively, allow one or two fruits to remain longer on the plant to form marrows, which are just lovely when crammed with vegetable or meat stuffings and baked in the oven. Courgette flowers can also be eaten; use them as soon after picking as possible for best results. Try them stuffed with herbs and soft cheese, then dipped in batter and quickly fried, or wilt them in hot olive oil to add to risottos and other savoury dishes. Quick to mature and easy to care for, this is a great little vegetable to get children interested in gardening - as well as for anyone who just can't wait to eat the fruits of their labours in the garden! Supplied as a packet of 20 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in pots or outdoors direct into growing position. Sow indoors March to May for planting out in May to June; or sow outdoors April to May directly into growing position in full sun, 60cm (24in) apart, in fertile, well-drained soil.
With stunning, deep magenta flowers and bright yellow centres, these 'Little Beauty' tulips have short stems and beautiful pointed petals. The perfect choice for planting at the front of borders or rock gardens as they will really draw in attention for you spring displays. Tulips are one of the most popular of spring flowers; plant them with contrasting colours for a fresh and vibrant display in your garden, patio or decking.Growing happily in sun or partial shade, they are ideal in large planters or in flower borders, especially in large groups, where their wonderful flower shape can be admired. Tulips are very easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year as they slowly naturalise and spread, or they can be dug up and stored over winter before replanting the following autumn. Supplied as 15 bulbs, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 15cm.
Hibiscus are amongst the most exotic looking flowers that you can grow, but 'Carousel Geant Red' takes that to another level entirely! Hibiscus 'Carousel Geant Red' is a spectacular deciduous shrub with lush red tinged, toothed leaves and bronze stems. Unashamedly exotic, the flowers are absolutely enormous, growing up to 18cm (5 inches) across and really do have to be seen to be believed! Best grown in a sunny spot, hibiscus are surprisingly tough and 'Geant Red' is winter harder to -15°C. With their late summer flowers they're perfect for extending the season in your garden and you'll be enjoying the stunning flowers right into autumn, as other shrubs are fading away. Great for growing in borders and spectacular as an eye-catching specimen in a patio container, bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to your garden. Supplied as an established plant is a 9cm pot, ready to plant and growing to a height and spread of 1.8 m (6ft).
A classic salad radish with crisp round roots of bright scarlet with moist, white flesh and a superbly sweet and mild flavour. Not only do they taste good, these nutritious beauties are an excellent source of vitamin C and potassium. A winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this reliable and fast-growing variety is an ideal choice for the novice and experienced gardener alike - and great for encouraging children to garden as they will be rewarded with quick results. Easy to grow, 'Scarlet Globe' can be harvested within 4-6 weeks of sowing direct into their cropping position. Suitable for container growing as well as beds and borders, they like a sunny, sheltered position in well-drained, fertile soil, although will grow well in poorer soils too. They make an excellent 'marker' crop between rows of slower growing veg such as potatoes, peas, parsnip and onion, to be harvested before the main crop fills the space. Supplied as a packet of 700 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors from February to September directly into their cropping position.
Striking lilac-pink flowers with a pretty yellow centre, these species tulips have short stems with pointed petals. Tulips are one of the most popular bulbs, as they are great planted with many different colour variations to give a fresh, vibrant spring colour to your garden, patio or decking. They also make great cut flowers to brighten up the house. Plant in autumn for stunning spring displays.
A long-established favourite of the vegetable garden, 'Gladiator F1' is a top-quality variety that produces long, wedge-shaped roots with smooth skin and clean white flesh, so they are easy to wash and require minimum peeling. This winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit is winter hardy, canker resistant and a reliably heavy cropper that matures early, so can be lifted from October. They keep well in the ground to harvest over the growing season as required for the kitchen. Indeed, their fabulously sweet flavour is even better after the first frosts, which turn some of the starch into sugar. As well as being delicious, they are nutritious too, being a good source of vitamin C, folate, potassium and fibre, as well as low in calories. Easy to grow, parsnips prefer a light sandy, fertile soil that has been well worked and deeply dug so is free of stones, as this will ensure full sized, well-shaped roots of exhibition quality. Try growing faster cropping vegetables such as radish and lettuce in between parsnip rows to maximise the productivity of your plot. Supplied as a packet of 200 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors from February to May, 40cm (16in) apart, directly into their cropping position. Harvest from October to February.
A sensational ornamental chard that will brighten up your vegetable plot or patio containers - and true to its name, 'Bright Lights' can also provide colourful contrast in herbaceous garden beds and borders. With dark green and bronze leaves and rainbow stems ranging from white and orange-yellow through to pinky red and purple, it is a real stunner, as well as being delicious to eat and packed full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fibre. A worthy winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this hardy biennial is easy to grow and slow-bolting. It will be ready to harvest in 4-6 weeks after sowing. Cropping prolifically over a long season, it is a true 'cut and come again' variety; the leaves will regenerate 1-2 weeks after harvesting the whole plant (leaving 2.5-5cm base), or remove just the outer leaves and allow the heart to grow on. The plants are robust enough to withstand light frosts and will continue to give good quality leaves until the colder winter weather sets in. This versatile veg has a lovely mild, sweet flavour when picked as baby leaves for salads and garnishes, developing an interesting and slightly bitter note when left to mature. Cook as you would spinach - lightly steamed or stir-fried to retain colour, flavour and nutrients. There will be plenty to pick all through the season, so any excess can be blanched and packed in an airtight bag for the freezer, where it will store well for up to a year for adding to soups and stews. Supplied as a packet of 150 (approx.) seeds ready to sow outdoors from April to mid-July, directly into their cropping position in well-drained, fertile soil. Harvest mid-July to November and if protected over winter will produce an early spring crop. Alternatively, sow in containers of at least 25cm (10in) depth and diameter (will accommodate 3-4 plants), using a good-quality compost.
Triumph tulips are a cross between two exceptional and successful varieties, Single Early and Darwin. The result is a range of outstanding, robust tulips in a range of fabulous colours. The gorgeous, pure white bowl-shaped flowers look absolutely pristine above broad grey-green leaves. Beautiful when grow together for an exquisite, refreshing spring display, they don't need any help to look magnificent. However, adding cream and pastel tulips will create a wonderful glade-like atmosphere. Triumph tulips will thrive in sun or partial shade, they are ideal in large planters or in flower borders, especially in large groups and the long, straight stems make them wonderful for cutting for indoor displays.Tulips are very easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year as they slowly naturalise and spread, or they can be dug up and stored over winter before replanting the following spring. Supplied as 15 bulbs, size 11/12, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 50 cm (20 in) and width of 15 cm (6 in).
Here's a chance to grow something unique with this brand new variety of blackberry with stunning, almost translucent creamy white berries. Polar Berry grows strongly with an upright habit meaning it needs minimal support and is easy to manage in the garden. Grow it in the border against fence or trellis or give it a sunny spot on the patio in a large pot supported by an obelisk. Ready to pick in July and August - the fruits are juicy and very sweet and delicious cooked or in mixed fruit salads. With just a few thorns they're easy to pick and because of the colour they are much less attactive to foraging birds. Delivered as well established plant in 9cm pots
Specially bred for the British climate, Butternut squash 'Hawk F1' yields a good crop of yellow-orange, pear-shaped fruits with sweet, tasty yellow flesh. Fully deserving of its RHS Award of Garden Merit, this reliable variety will produce fruits of up to approximately 700g (1.5lb). Easy to grow from seed and quick to establish, this is a great choice for novice and experienced gardeners alike, as well as ideal for introducing children to gardening as they will see fast germination followed by a satisfying spectacle as the plants produce attractive, large flowers, and then squashes that noticeably increase in size day by day over the summer. A versatile vegetable that has grown in popularity over recent years, Butternut squash is great to cook in a variety of ways such as roasting or baking, or as an ingredient in soups, stews and curries. Packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it is a good source of fibre and low in calories - and it tastes great, too! Supplied as a packet of 10 (approx.) seeds ready to sow indoors in pots or outdoors directly into their cropping position. Sow indoors March to May in small pots or outdoors in May, directly where they are to flower. Plant 90cm (36in) apart in fertile, well-drained soil. All they require to thrive is a sunny position with plenty of space for them to spread out and a liquid feed applied ever 10-14 days once the fruits start to swell. Harvest from September to October.
Create a spectacular spring display with these simply stunning Crocus 'Ruby Giant' bulbs. Providing a striking violet-coloured flowers, these low growing and early flowering crocus are perfect got planting in grass. They are also great for pots and containers on your patio area, balcony or terrace. Easy to grow and low maintenance, they come back every year. They are ideal growing under shrubs and trees where they can produce a carpet of beautiful purple blooms for you to enjoy from February through to early spring. Crocus 'Ruby Giant' is recommended by the RHS as a 'Plant for Pollinators', with flowers that are a favourite with butterflies and bees. So, if you al looking to encourage some early season wildlife into your spring garden, these bulbs are a must-have. Supplied as a pack of 30 bulbs, size 5/7 ready to plant out in autumn. Growing to a height of 10cm and width of 5cm.
This 'Sweet' Basil is the classic, large-leaved variety that is most popularly used in cuisines all over the world. Native to tropical regions of central Africa and Southeast Asia, it is a tender, half-hardy annual when grown outdoors in Britain for summer cropping. Or it can be grown successfully indoors on your windowsill all through the year to ensure a continuous supply of fresh leaves for culinary use. A favourite herb particularly of Italian cooking, its sweet, aromatic leaves are a characteristic ingredient for many dishes from salads and garnishes to soups, casseroles, ragu, pizza, and pasta dishes - and superb for making fresh pesto. The flavour comes from the intense essential oils in the glossy green leaves that are at their best when eaten raw or added to hot dishes at the last minute. Growing your own 'Sweet' Basil from seed, whether indoors or outdoors, will reward you with neat, bushy and vigorous plants that can be cut just when you need a fresh bunch for your cooking - a much better solution than those frustrating supermarket pot herbs that barely last 2-3 weeks and are reluctant to grow back when cut. Sow all year round indoors into pots for your windowsill or for transplanting outdoors from May to July. Or sow outdoors from May to June; they will do best in pots or containers, but can be sown directly into a well-prepared bed or border. All they require is a sunny but sheltered position, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil or compost, then regular cutting to encourage new growth. Supplied as a packet of 450 (approx.) seeds ready to plant indoors or outdoors in their growing position. Mature plants can reach 30cm (12in) height and spread. Harvest indoors all year round or throughout the summer when grown outdoors.
Iris reticulata Blue is a dwarf, early flowering iris that is a native of mountainous parts of Russia, Turkey and Iran. Narrow, erect foliage gives rise to richly coloured flower stems with vibrant cobalt blue blooms that have a bright golden yellow and white markings along the centre of each petal, giving them an orchid-like look. Appearing in March and April, the flowers are loved by bees and a host of other pollinators that appreciate the early source of nectar, and each one carries a wonderful fragrance. Iris reticulata make a wonderful display when planted together in pots and they also work well in rock and gravel gardens or try them as a gorgeous centrepiece for your patio table. Preferring well drained soil and a sunny location, they will happily naturalise and spread, returning bigger and better every year. The bulbs can be lifted and divided in autumn. Supplied as 25 bulbs, size 5/7 ready for planting in autumn, growing to a height of 15 cm (6 in) and spread of 10 cm (4 in).
A reliable and popular, high-yielding variety, 'Masterpiece Green Longpod' is considered by many to be the best broad bean you can grow. The seeds are quick to germinate, either indoors in pots or outdoors planted directly into their cropping position, generating vigorous plants that will provide plenty of fresh, tasty beans for your plate - and plenty more for the freezer. True to its name, this variety produces particularly long, regularly formed pods, each containing 6 to 8 juicy beans. Harvesting from June onwards, the younger you pick them, the more tender the beans will be; or leave them to mature a while longer if you prefer larger beans. You can even cook the young pods whole; just top and tail them, and then gently steam to retain the best of their flavour and texture. If you harvest more beans than you can eat, just blanch them and put into an airtight container or bag, then store in your freezer until required. They will retain their shape and texture well and be just as delicious cooked from frozen. Being a worthy recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure of good-quality, plentiful crops that are easy and rewarding to grow. Sow indoors from February to April for planting out from April to May, or sow outdoors from February to May, in a sunny position directly where they are to crop, 60cm (24in) apart in well-drained, fertile soil. Harvest from June to August. Supplied as a packet of 45 (approx.) seeds ready to plant indoors in individual pots or outdoors in their cropping position. Grows to 1.2m (48in) by 30cm (12in) spread.
Also known as the 'Summer Snowflake', this is a relative of the snowdrop, which it closely resembles. However, it is much taller and flowers later, during March and April. The gently arching flower stems reach up to 50 cm tall, and carry lovely, dainty pendant blooms in groups, or umbels, of three to five but sometimes as many as seven. The beautiful flowers are pure white with a green spot at the end of each petal. Leucojum prefers to grow in moist, fertile soils, making it a great choice for planting around water margins such as by a pond or stream. It's also happy in borders and when grown in pots it makes a great early season cut flower. It will quickly establish itself and naturalise, increasing your stock. Supplied as 10 bulbs, size 8/9, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 50 cm (20 in) and spread of 10 cm (4 in).
A striking ornamental shrub, this Conus alba, the Siberian Dogwood, forms a thicket of upright red stems. It has green foliage with oval leaves during spring and summer. Recommended by the RHS as a 'Plant for Pollinators', bees and butterflies are attracted to the clusters of lovely soft pink flowers that appear in from late spring to mid-summer. These are followed by black berries that will attract birds. In autumn the leaves take on fiery red hues before dropping to fully reveal the stems, which change from red to an intense scarlet during the winter. Fully deserving its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure that this is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience. You can therefore plant this in the garden with confidence, for a stunning display for many years to come. Fully winter hardy, Dogwoods are a popular shrub for any garden or even a large container as they are unfussy and are both easy to grow and low maintenance, providing year round interest. They will grow in sun or partial shade, but be aware that Dogwoods produce the best stem colour when grown in full sun. Supplied as an established plant in a 2 L pot, ready to plant, growing to a height and spread of 2.5 m (8 ft).